Nurses at Staten Island (N.Y.) University Hospital's North site, part of New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health, notified hospital officials of their intent to strike next month over alleged unfair labor practices, reports the Staten Island Advance.
The 10-day strike notice was issued June 21 on behalf of 1,200 North site nurses represented by the New York State Nurses Association. They plan to strike from 7 a.m. on July 3 until 6:59 a.m. on July 4.
SIUH expressed disappointment about the strike notice in a statement to Becker's Hospital Review, but said it "remain[s] hopeful an agreement can be reached to avoid a strike." If a strike occurs, hospital officials said they will bring in temporary staffing agency nurses, who will work at the hospital for five days, including July 3 and four additional days. Hospital nurses would not be able to return to work until after that time period due to contract terms with the temporary workers.
"As always, patient care remains our highest priority. We have contracted with a nationally respected nursing agency to ensure that if nurses follow through with a strike, SIUH will operate normally and continue to provide uninterrupted, world-class care to patients," they said. "Nurses from the staffing agency will undergo extensive orientation and training that will enable them to seamlessly transition if they are called in to support SIUH North. They are fully prepared to carry out best-practice protocols at SIUH, including nursing expertise in specialized areas of care such as the intensive care and critical care units."
The strike notice comes after 42 negotiating sessions between both sides since June 2017.
Pat Kane, a registered nurse at SIUH, told the Staten Island Advance: "The problem: Management refuses to properly staff the hospital and refuses to discuss fair wages and benefits — all while the executives take home large compensation packages. It's not right and it's not fair. The patients deserve better, the community deserves better and the nurses deserve better."
Hospital officials contend they have "bargained in good faith" during negotiations.
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